Member Stephen A. Hall joined the law firm of Burns White in April 2004. He currently practices in the areas of civil litigation, and estate planning and administration.

With 10 years of experience defending railroads nationwide, Mr. Hall represents Class I and short line railroad clients in occupational injury, grade crossing and wrongful death claims brought under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). In addition, he is knowledgeable in both trial and appellate litigation in the areas of products liability, motor vehicles, premises liability and commercial litigation.

As the Co-Chair of the Estate Planning and Administration Group, Mr. Hall assists families and businesses with a wide range of their estate planning needs, including special needs trusts, simple and complex wills, general trusts, advanced health care directives and powers of attorney, asset protection planning, and business succession planning.

Prior to joining Burns White, Mr. Hall served for two years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable John M. Cleland, former President Judge of the McKean County Court of Common Pleas.

Mr. Hall graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor with Distinction from Ohio Northern University in 1999.

While earning his academic credentials, Mr. Hall interned for then Congressman Rick Santorum, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Supreme Court of Ohio. While in law school, he was invited to join the Law Review, finished as a semi-finalist in the 1997 Burke E. Smith Moot Court Competition, and was a member of the William Howard Taft Inns of Court.

Mr. Hall is admitted to practice law before all New York and Pennsylvania state courts, as well as the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Western District of New York and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA), where he presents on the importance of organizing and preserving estate planning documents to senior citizens through the ACBA's Very Important Papers program.

Outside of the legal profession, Mr. Hall has served as a part-time instructor at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, teaching American Constitutional Law and American Civil Liberties. He also serves on the board of directors for the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh.

Areas of Law

Civil Litigation

FELA

Grade Crossing Accidents

Wrongful Death

Estate Planning & Administration

Education

Ohio Northern University (J.D., 1999)

University of Pittsburgh (B.A., 1996)

Bar and Court Admissions

New York

Pennsylvania

United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

United States District Court for the Western District of New York

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Memberships

American Bar Association (ABA)

Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law

Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA)

Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee

Legal Services to Persons with Disabilities Committee

Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA)

New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)

National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC)

WealthCounsel

Honors/Awards

Selected by his peers for inclusion on the 2010-2011 and 2013-2014 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® "Rising Stars" lists